Questioning the tax distribution and social costs of casinos

A group known as the Coalition Against Gambling in NY is out with a study looking at what they they view as the lopsided disbursements of tax revenue that casino gambling would generate and the social costs, such as those involved in treating gambling addicts that would come with legalized gambling.

“We’re zeroing in on the social ones (impacts) because the bill language neglects them,” co-author Dave Colavito said.

Here’s their study, which includes a somewhat eye popping chart of where, geographically, the tax money from a given casino would end up.

This anti-casino report comes as Gov. Andrew Cuomo this morning, as reported by my colleague Casey Seiler, say he’ll soon be out working in support of a “yes” vote to allow casinos during the upcoming constitutional referendum.